"RONALD WEASLEY, OPEN THIS DOOR."
Ron jumped up and flung open the door. There was Hermione. It was incredible. There was Hermione!
"Merlin, I know you're not that bright, but I also know that you don't read that slowly... and- OOF!"
Ron had knocked the bags out of her hands and completely enveloped her into a desperately euphoric hug.
"MMPH ROMALL YOUFF GOTTA LET GO."
Ron did as she told, and stood in front of her, looking at her, drinking the sight of her lest she disappear. They both stood there, looking at each other until one got sheepish and the other averted her eyes. Ron didn't know what to do. Hermione thought that she pretty much spelled it out for him in the letter, but then again, knowing Ron..
"Well."
"Yeah."
"So."
"I guess.."
Their eyes met. Ron spoke.
"I understand if you thought it was wrong. We can forget it. We can go back to being best friends."
"Okay."
"Okay," Ron whispered, crestfallen.
"We can," Hermione thought to herself, "But what would that be like?"
"Normal, I guess."
"But normal is boring."
"You're one to talk. But then, you ARE the definition of boring."
"Shut up, Ron." Hermione continued anyway, "I know boring. My entire life was boring before Hogwarts. Before I met you and Harry, yes, I would have been the epitome of boring. Now that I've seen the other world, the darker side," she added with a smirk, "Maybe I don't want boring. Maybe you changed me."
"What are you saying, Hermione?"
"Ron, I'm right here. Right in front of you. There's no pen, no parchment, and you have to tell me now, or never. Do you love me?"
"What?"
"You know, I really hate you."
"I know. I love you."
"You what?"
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"So there."
Hermione breathed.
"Somehow, I thought it would be a lot more romantic."
"Gee, Hermione, you really know how to make a guy feel great."
"I'm sorry. I'm a girl. I read horribly cheesy stories. I watch sappy movies. I daydream. I've thought about it all summer.. and now it's done."
"What, did you want shooting stars? An electric kiss, with a dip too?"
"Shut up, Ron."
"Okay, fine, but my wand is broken, so the stars might not shoot."
Ron withdrew his wand from his pocket and sent up sparks, and then leaned in and kissed Hermione softly. She stood there for a moment, and then he could feel her smile as she kissed back.
"That was the cheesiest thing in the world."
"I should stop with the sparks, your hair is a fire hazard."
"I could kill you right now."
"I could die right now."
"Don't. Stay with me."
"Well, then stop getting mad at me."
"Well, then stop being frustrating!"
"Ah, we're back to normal."
"Normal?"
"And if it get's boring, then at least we can.."
Ron cut her off. Hermione talked too much. As she rested her head on his shoulder, he thought aloud:
"Wow, this summer. Remind me to give Pig a huge dinner later."
